LNG: gloomy now, brighter soon
LNG producers must have faith. The glut will pass and the market will need their gas
THE WORLD wanted more liquefied natural gas; the market responded. The wave of new supply, expected for years, is upon us. Global LNG export capacity is now 352.54m tonnes a year (t/y) and will rise to 357.84m t/y by the end of 2016; and 452.11m t/y by 2020, according to Petroleum Economist's Interactive World LNG Map. Supply will have risen by almost 30% in the space of five years. Combined with weaker-than-expected demand in Asia and the oil-price slump, the supply abundance has depressed LNG prices - and changed the market. Consumers are in charge, demanding new flexibility in their purchase contracts and, above all, cheaper gas. Less gas than expected is heading to Asia; more than expec
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
